The opioid crisis is responsible for an increasing number of hospitalizations and deaths from opioid misuse, including prescriptions, illicit drugs and analogues. In 2019, nearly 50,000 people died from opioid-involved overdoses.  Opioid dependence, addiction and overdose are serious public health problems in the United States.

Opioid substances are responsible for activating a series of receptors (known as opioid receptors) on nerve cells. When these receptors are activated, the brain is unable to perceive pain and boosts the sense of pleasure a person experiences by way of endorphins and other chemicals that are produced naturally within the body. People who abuse opioids often seek these feelings of pleasure and pain relief and may take too much of the medication at one time, leading to overdose.

An opioid overdose occurs when the brain’s opioid receptors are fully blocked, leading to slowed breathing that eventually stops and can result in death. In the event of an opioid overdose, Narcan Nasal Spray can potentially save a life if used right away. 

What Is Narcan Nasal Spray?

Narcan Nasal Spray is a prescription medicine also known as naloxone. It is an opioid overdose reversal medication that can be used as a nasal spray during an opioid overdose. Narcan Nasal Spray works by temporarily reversing the effects of opioid medicines by knocking the opioids out of the receptors in the brain and preventing them from returning. Breathing will return to normal when enough of the drug is administered, saving the life of the overdosed person. 

Narcan Nasal Spray is to be given right away if an overdose is suspected but it does not take the place of emergency medical care or opioid use treatment. Emergency help should be pursued right away after giving the nasal spray, even if the person wakes up after administration of naloxone. 

Anyone can carry Narcan Nasal Spray and it is even safe for use in children. A doctor’s prescription is not required to purchase the medication in most states. 

How Is Narcan Nasal Spray Helping Combat the Opioid Crisis?

Narcan Nasal Spray is playing a role in the opioid crisis by helping to reduce the rate of overdose deaths across the nation. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now advises health care professionals to offer the medication to people who have increased risk factors for opioid overdose as even people with prescribed pain medications for chronic pain are at a higher risk for overdose. 

Naloxone is also being increasingly used by emergency medical technicians, police officers and first responders to reverse opioid overdoses. 

What Should You Do if You or Someone You Love Is Addicted to Opioids?

If you or someone you love is addicted to opioids, there are several things you can do. 

First, get help. Wading through the waters of addiction alone is scary but you don’t have to. Whether you are the person addicted or you are helping someone you care about through the struggle, treatment is important. 

Also learn the signs of opioid overdose and call 911 if you notice any of the following overdose symptoms:

• Slowed breathing
• Blue lips and fingertips
• Deep snoring or a gurgling sound
• Non-responsiveness
• Slow or stopped heartbeat
• Clammy and pale skin

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about obtaining Narcan Nasal Spray to have on hand in the event of an overdose emergency. Learn how to administer the medication during a suspected overdose.

The team at My Recovery Source is ready to help you or your loved one struggling with opioid abuse to get on the path to long term recovery and healing, free from substance addiction. Reach out to us today for help.  

There are many different treatments and rehab programs available for someone looking to get sober. Whether you’re addicted to alcohol, heroin, cocaine, or prescription pills, professional treatment is out there for you or your loved one. 

Here at My Recovery Source, we are dedicated recovery professionals looking to help you find the best possible addiction treatment. Today we’ll discuss what intensive outpatient rehab is, how intensive outpatient rehab helps with addiction, and how we can help you at My Recovery Source.  

Intensive Outpatient Rehab Explained 

The goals of the intensive outpatient rehab program help individuals learn early-stage relapse management and coping strategies, ensure psychosocial support for each individual, and address their unique symptoms and needs. Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) use a variety of approaches within the treatment. Some of the commonly used and studied treatment approaches consist of: 

• 12-Step Programs: 12-step programs include fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Cocaine Anonymous (CA). Within these types of programs, there is an educational aspect that presents the substance as a disease that is characterized by denial and loss of control. There may be homework, journaling, and even taking on recovery tasks. 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: The cognitive behavioral approach focuses on teaching clients different skills that can help them recognize and reduce the risk of relapse. It also helps to maintain abstinence and enhance one’s self-efficacy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) also is applied to challenges in recovery, interpersonal relations, depression, anger management, and anxiety. CBT provides structure when understanding relapse triggers and prepares clients for situations in which they can relapse.
• Motivational: Motivational approaches acknowledge that drugs of abuse have rewarding properties that can disguise the drug’s hazards and their negative long-term effects. Within this motivational approach, counselors encourage their clients to (1) identify different discrepancies between their significant life goals and the consequences that come with substance abuse; (2) believe in their own capabilities for change; (3) the ability to choose available strategies and options; (4) take responsibility for their own healthy lifestyle and habits.
• Matrix Model – The Matrix model is originally known as the neurobehavioral treatment and integrates several different research-based techniques. This targets the clients’ behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and relationship issues. The Matrix approach/model tries to: (1) establish a strong therapeutic relationship between clients and their counselors; (2) teach clients on how to structure their time and initiate a healthy and orderly lifestyle; (3) provides opportunities to learn and practice relapse prevention and other coping techniques; (4) involves family and significant others within the therapeutic and educational processes, which helps with support within the treatment; (5) encourages clients to participate in community-based help groups; and (6) conducts random substance tests to assess treatment effectiveness.
• Community Reinforcement and Contingency Management: Community reinforcement and contingency management are treatment approaches that are based upon operant conditioning.  This means that future behavior is based on the positive or negative consequences of the past behavior. Within these programs, they select a targeted Behavior that is attainable within a reasonable amount of time and has a direct effect on the desired outcome.

Who Should Go To IOP 

Intensive Outpatient rehab programs treat individuals who have substance use disorders or co-occurring mental disorders with a substance disorder. This type of addiction treatment program is for individuals who do not require 24-hour supervision or medical detoxification. Intensive outpatient rehab programs are more flexible and for individuals who have already undergone an inpatient treatment program or have a mild addiction. IOPs allow clients to remain within their own homes and communities, which can help when adjusting back to community life.

How My Recovery Source Can Help

Here at My Recovery Source, we want to help our clients to understand intensive outpatient rehab and how it can be beneficial within your recovery process. Whether you are just starting addiction treatment, or looking to continue treatment after inpatient rehab, an IOP is a great option for you! Reach out to us today to learn more about intensive outpatient rehab and have us help you find the best addiction treatment for you or your loved one. 

Addiction can be a struggle to understand. While a lot of people think addiction is a ‘moral weakness’ or someone who lacks self control, it’s actually a disease. Just like there is science behind the explanation of diabetes, there is a science behind explaining addiction as well. 

My Recovery Source is dedicated to ending the stigma of addiction. We feel in order to fight against addiction, it’s imperative that people know the science behind it. It’s much easier to understand what addiction is and how it works by looking at data and research. By understanding addiction you will better be able to help those struggling with it. 

The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction Explained

Addiction is a chronic disease that is treatable. Addiction involves complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, environment, and life experiences. People that have an addiction may engage in behaviors that become compulsive, and will usually continue despite the negative consequences. Addiction ranges in severity and there is a full spectrum of substance use disorders. There are various signs and symptoms of alcohol/drug addiction. Some of the more common signs include:

• Cravings – The urge to take more drugs or to consume alcohol
• Secrecy – An addict will try to hide their addiction when confronted and they won’t admit who they are with or where they were 
• Change – As an addict falls deeper into an addiction their environment and social circle can change
• Neglect – They neglect their hygiene and their appearance
• Broke – Someone with a drug or alcohol addiction may ask you for money to sustain their habit
• Effort – Puts in considerable effort to get alcohol or drugs

The Data Backing the Science of Addiction

It is important to study drug use and addiction. There is a lot of scientific data and research that backs addiction. There have been studies done about genes and how they affect addiction, primarily epigenetics. Evidence shows that environmental factors, such as stress, can induce epigenetic changes that may trigger the development of mental disorders and drug addiction. 

There are also evidence-based approaches to drug addiction, meaning that these treatment approaches have been proven to work against drug addiction. Some of these evidence-based treatment approaches are pharmacotherapies and behavioral therapies. There is also the science of drug addiction behind the cycle of addiction with three different phases. These phases include the (1) binge and intoxication phase, (2) withdrawal and negative affect phase, (3) preoccupation and anticipation. When understanding the scientific data, we can begin to process the understanding of addiction and how it affects people. This way we can find, develop, and understand new/current treatment options. 

The Best Way to Get Help With an Addiction

The best way to get help with an addiction is to seek professional treatment. Confiding in a family member or trusted friend is a great start to finding treatment. If you don’t have anyone who you feel comfortable sharing your addiction with, you can always do some self-reflecting. This may mean understanding and admitting you have a problem to yourself, and then doing research to find a treatment that works for you. Addiction treatment includes detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient, and support groups. 

How My Recovery Source Can Help

Here at My Recovery Source, we provide a database where our clients can find an individualized treatment program that fits their unique addiction treatment needs. We partner up with numerous treatment facilities that cater to all types of addictions. If you have more questions of the science of drugs and addiction, please do not hesitate to call.

Whether you are looking for gender specific treatment, religious affiliated treatment, inpatient, outpatient, or detox, we got you covered. Reach out to one of our specialists today to learn more about addiction treatment and how to get started on the journey of recovery!